An aerial view of Stony Range Reserve, where tree planting will be undertaken. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Shellharbour residents are being urged to roll up their sleeves these school holidays and help restore one of the region’s most important pockets of rainforest, Stony Range Reserve.
A community planting day at Stony Range on 14 April will see people of all ages planting native trees and shrubs, playing a direct role in protecting rare species and rebuilding vital bushland.
The range is an area of dense rainforest tucked away between Pioneer Drive in Blackbutt and the Princes Motorway, and includes threatened species and ecological communities.
Shellharbour City Council Mayor Chris Homer said the event was a great opportunity for people of all ages to get involved in caring for bushland.
“Every plant makes a difference, and everyone is welcome to be part of restoring Stony Range,” Cr Homer said.
“It’s a great way for the community to come together, enjoy the outdoors and help protect this important natural area.”
It was deliberately designed to take place during the school holidays to make it easier for families to join in, and was also about encouraging young people to get outdoors, meet new people and help care for the environment.
The community planting day is part of a wider restoration project at Stony Range, funded by the NSW Environmental Trust.
It aims to protect and repair the Illawarra subtropical rainforest, an important ecological space that supports several threatened plant species found in the area.
Council’s natural areas team manages more than 443 hectares of bushland across Shellharbour, including Bass Point, Blackbutt Forest, Flinders Reserve and coastal dunes, with work including bush regeneration, planting native species and improving the health of waterways and habitats.
Its most recent project involved more than 30,000 native plants being put in the ground at Blackbutt Forest Reserve and Croom Reserve as part of a major effort to support the vulnerable grey-headed flying-fox and encourage the animals away from suburban backyards.
Residents can also take part in council’s bushcare program, which provides regular opportunities for community members to help care for natural areas.
Participants are encouraged to wear enclosed footwear suitable for uneven ground, along with comfortable clothing that can get dirty. Further instructions are provided on the registration page.
Register for the Community Planting Day to be held on 14 April from 9:30 to 11:30 am, with participants meeting at the walkway to the playground between 14 and 16 Westwood Drive, Blackbutt.
